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Language and Gender
Differences between male and female speech noticed some time ago Not studied systematically until recentlySome are very obvious – pronounsOther differences are discovered by sociolinguistic research
Some gender differences
Reports of different male and female languages usually exaggerated differences in language shift different dialects or accents marrying out
Japanese
Japanese
different phonology, morphology and vocabulary
supposedly reflect the role of women as polite, gentle, passive
continued
Women’s form -- men’s form (traditional Japanese)
Otoosan oyaji (father)
Onaka hara (stomach)
Taberu kuu (eat)
Hlonipha
Hlonipha
Xhosa-speaking women must avoid syllables in their in-laws’ names
replaced with deletions, paraphrase, loan words
continued
Respect for husband’s family
inferior status of women
Result – a lot words used only by women
Language and gender in English
English – differences less obvious --phonologicalLinked to social class studies of language and social class also showed gender differencesApplies in many places in UK, US, Australia, new Zealand
continued
In NYC women used post-vocalic /r/ more oftenNorwich – women used –ing, men used –in more often Tyneside men used glottalised –p more often
continued
Verbal duelling – typically masculineYo momma – white chicksRap battles – Eight MileTurkish rhymed insultsEnglish football chants
Gender and Language change
Studies of linguistic change in Norwich, Engliand and Belfast, N Ireland
Men lead change from below
vernacular forms spread upwards – glottalisation in British English
continued
Women lead change from above
Introduce standard forms
Mrs Hall rather than Mizall in Leeds
Language and networks
Belfast – women worked outside community – introduced new forms from outside
Similar pattern among African Americans in South Carolina islands
Language and Identity
Language used to express identity but gender variation“Jocks” and “Burnouts” in Detroit suburban high schoolsidentified with suburbs and cityGender differences
continued
Burnout girls adopted urban rather than suburban forms but less than boysOccasionally used taboo words in single sex groups Boys frequentlyJock boys used taboo words in SSGs but not in front of women
Explanations of gender difference
Attempt to acquire social status by using standard forms – probably true of NYCWomen forced to use distinctive forms as a sign of inferiority –XhosaWomen as guardians of cultural values –unlikely to explain interaction with children
continued
Standard forms are considered polite – politeness is not required of superior groupsExpression of machismoGender sorting at a young age – differences appear at 6 in some casesProbably all true in different degrees in different places
Language and discourse
Men talk more than women, especially in publicMen interrupt women more than vice-versaWomen are more supportive of other speakers
continued
Women more likely to use hedgesMen more likely to use boostersWomen more likely to use compliments But problems of method and bias
Language and Discourse
Why is there no ‘K’ in J.K. Rowling’s birth certificate
Sexist language
Masculine gender to include womenNegative connotations of feminine wordsMaster -- mistressWorking girlSir – madamWizard – witchMany words for sexually promiscuous womenBut rent boy, toy boy
Non-sexist language
Movement especially in USHe becomes he or she Fireman – firefighterPoliceman – police officerMrs/miss becomes ms
Explanations
Physical – may explain intonation but not much elseGenetic – unpopular until recently --but research by Baron-Cohen – differences in male and female brains – systems vs relationships
continued
Social/ cultural Will explain many cases – group identity, social mobility, discriminationbut why so widespread?